Turbine bearing construction



April 13, 1948.

I R. s. BUCK ETAL TURBINE BEARING CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 28, 1944 mm hhh 3 Sheets-Sheet "1 FIG.

ATTORNEY April .13, 1948. R. s. BUCK ET AL TURBINE BEARING CONSTRUCTION s Shets-Sheet 2:

Filed Jan. 28, 1944 FIG. 2

ATTORNEY APril 1948. R. s. BUCK ET AL 2,439,447

TURBINE BEARING CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 28, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 3

Patented Apr. 13, 1948 2,439,447 TURBINE BEARING CONSTRUCTION Richard S. Buck, Glasto Ledwith, Hartford, Con Aircraft Corporation,

The copending application of Cronsedt, Serial No. 486,617, filed May 11, 1943, now Patent No. 2,425,177, shows a turbine in which the power gas is discharged through a duct surrounding a hearing for the rotor. This bearing is supported within a housing which also supports the nozzlecarrying casing. A feature of the present invention is the supply of fluid to thisbearing either for cooling or for lubricating the bearing.

Another feature is the supply of fluid to the interior of the shaft adjacent the bearin to aid in cooling the bearing.

Leakage of power gas into the bearing at the end of the power section of the turbine is prevented by introducing sealing air into the labyrinth seal which surrounds the rotor between the power section andthe bearing. Afeature of nbury, and Walter A. 11., assignors to United East Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application January 28, 1944, Serial No. 520,065 14 Claims. (01. 308-77) transfer of heat from the scroll to the the invention is the supply of sealing air to the seal froma point externally of thebearing sup port.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the specification and claims, and from the accompanying drawing which illustrates what is now considered to be a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a sectional view through the turbine, the rear end bearing section being on the line l-| of Fig. 2. r

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the rear bearing and its supporting structure on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional Fig. 2. p

The turbine shown has a casing in and a rotor 12, both supported by a housing l4. Casing It! has several parallel rows of circumferentially view on the line 3--3 of 1 spaced nozzle-forming vanes l6 which alternate with rows of blades [8. on the rotor. The part of the rotor having these blades and the part of the casing having the vanes constitute the powersection of the turbine.

Casing I0 is supported by radial pins 20 in the housing and engaging bosses 22 in the casing. These pins are all in the same radial plane and constitute the sole support for the casing. The casing is free to expand axially within the housing and is smaller in diameter than the housing at it's plane of support, thus permitting the casing to expand radially without destroying its concentric alignment. Clearance is provided at the inner ends of pins 20 for radial expansion of the casing.

Housing l4 has ahead 24 which forms a part of the housing and supports a bearing 26 for the front end of the turbine shaft 28 integral with 2 and forming a part of the rotor. At the other end of the rotor, housing M has a mounting 30 within which is a bearing 32 for the shaft. Mounting 30 has a number of legs 34, 3 6, 38, and 40 engaging radial supporting 48 mounted in the by caps 5 0.

Power gas is conducted into casing l 0 by an intake scroll 52 connected to the casing Ill) and extending through an opening 54 in the housing to connect with an inlet pipe not shown. is spaced from housing 14 andhead housing and held in position 24 so that housing is minimized; At the discharge end of the casing, power gas is discharged through a duct 56 which surrounds mounting 30. The inner end of the duct may engage resilient sealing rings 58 in grooves in casing It! so that axial expansion of the casing does not afiect the position of the duct.

The outer ends of the legs on mounting 30 engage with the duct and support the duct in concentric relation to the mounting. The supporting pins 42, 44, 46, and 48 extend through openings in the duct and hold the duct in axial position within the housing. v

The path for power gas discharging from the turbine is within the duct and between the legs on the mounting. Each leg may have a surrounding shield 60 which is streamlined to minimize the resistance to the gas flow. These shields, in conjunction with shields 62 and 64 around the mounting, prevent overheating of the mounting by the power gas.

Mounting 30 carries the outer element 66, Fig. 3, of a labyrinth seal, the inner element 68 of which is mounted on and rotates with turbine shaft 28. Inner element 68 may be integral with a bearing sleeve 70 on the shaft which engages with bearing 32 in mounting 30. Gas under pressure is admitted to this seal between its ends for preventing leakage of power gas through the seal. y

Lubricant for bearing 32, coolant for the end of turbine shaft 28 and sealing air for the labyrinth seal are admitted to the mounting through the radial supporting pins which are made hollow to form passages for the fluids. As shown in Fig. 2, leg 34 of mounting 30 has an oil inlet pipe 12, the inner end of which is threaded in abuse in bearing 32.

pins 42,44, 46, and

The scroll Pump I8 which scavenges oil from mounting 30 is connected by a passage in head 24 and passage 82 in housing I4 to the outer end of pin 48 which has a side opening 84 in line with passage 82. A transfer pin 85 connects passages 80 and 82. When pump I0 is operating, oil is thus pumped out of a recess 81 in mounting 30 in which the oil collects.

Lubricant from pump I6 which supplies oil to the bearing is directed through passages not shown similar to passages 80 and 82 in head 24 and housing I4. 'These passages connect with the outer end of pin 42 in which tube I2 is mounted. A radial opening 88 in this pin is in line with the oil passage in the housing.

Housing I4 may have a third passage similar to passages 80 and 02 through which sealing air for the labyrinth seal is admitted. This passage connects with the side opening 80 in the hollow pin 46 which admits fluid to a chamber 90 adjacent bearing 32. This chamber is separated from recess 81 by a Wall 9 I.

From chamber, 90, sealing air passes through an opening 92, Fig. 2, into the space within shield 62, and through ports 94 in the outer element of the labyrinth seal. This air pressure is higher than the pressure within the turbine adjacent to the seal, and air working through the seal into the turbine prevents power gas from leaking through the seal. Sealing air within shield 62 may also reach the space within shield 64 through openings 95, Figs. 1 and 2, in mounting 30.

As shown in Fig. 3, the space between bearing 32 and the end of the labyrinth seal is connected by a channel 96 to the chamber 81 at the inner end of pin 48 through which oil is scavenged.

The fourth radial supporting pin 44 connects at its inner end with a chamber 98 within the mounting. This chamber intersects a groove I00 in bearing 32 and thus vents chamber 81 at the inner end of scavenge pin 48. A passage IOI in mounting 30 connects with the space between the seal and the bearing for venting this space.

Pin 44 has a side opening I03 at its outer end that connects with another passage in housing I4 and head 24 similar to passages 82 and 80. This passage enters a chamber I02 in head 24 which surrounds the rotor shaft and into which oil from the front bearing 24 drains. This chamber may be scavenged by a pump, not shown, similar to pump I8. Chamber I02 may be vented, or a constant pressure may be maintained in the chamber as described in the copending application of Ledwith, Serial No. 520,064, filed January 28, 1944. Both chambers 98 and I02 are under the same pressure. through the interconnecting passage in housing and head.

In addition to lubricating the bearing, and supplying air to the seal, fluid is also circulated through the end of the turbine shaft for cooling. Mounting 30 has a cap I04 having a passage I05 connecting with a cross-channel I06 in bearing 32 through which a part of the lubricant delivered to the bearing may be supplied to a tube I08 extending into a recess I Win the end of the shaft. This tube delivers the oil which functions as a coolant to the inner end of therecess where it is discharged over a baflle II2 to flow along the sides of; the recess and escape through grooves H4 in the end of the shaft to the inside of the cap. One or more channels H6 in bearing 32 connect the space within the cap tochamber I00 which, as shown in Fig. 2, is connected with scavenge chamber 81.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment herein illustrated and described, but may be used in other Ways without departure from its spirit as defined by the following claims.

We claim:

1. A turbine construction including a housing, a rotor within the housing, a. bearing for said rotor, a mounting for said bearing, a labyrinth seal around said rotor, pins extending inwardly from the housing and fitting in said mounting to support the mounting within and spaced from the housing, said rotor having a recess through which coolant is circulated, and means for admitting lubricant to the bearing, coolant to said recess and fluid for the seal through said pins, the pins being hollow to provide fluid connections from the housing to the mounting.

2. A bearing construction including a housing member, a rotor, a bearing for said rotor, a mounting member for said bearing located within the housing member, removable pins extending inwardly from said housing member and engaging and supporting said mounting member, said pins being slidable in one of said members to provide for relative expansion between said members, and

means for supplying fluid to said bearing through one of said pins, said one pin having a longitudinal passage therein for the fluid.

3. A bearing construction including a housing member, a rotor, a bearing for said rotor, at mounting member for said bearing located within the housing membenmemovable pins extending inwardly from said housing member and engaging and supporting said mounting member, said pins being slidable in one of said members to provide for relative expansion between said members, and means for supplying fluid to said bearing through one of said pins, said one pin having a longitudinal passage therein for the fluid, said housing having a passage therein connecting with said one pin adjacent its outer end. 1

4. A turbine construction including a housing member, a rotor, a bearing for said rotor, a mounting member for said bearing separate from and located within the housing, said mounting member having legs between which is a path for power fluid, removable pins extending inwardly from said housing member and fitting within the legs to support the mounting membensaid I pins being slidable in one of said members to provide for relative expansion between said members, and means for supplying fluid to said bearing including a passage through one of said pins through which fluid may be admitted to' the mounting member. I

5. A turbine construction including a housing member, a rotor, a bearing for said ,rotor, a mounting member for said bearing separate from and located within the housing, said mounting member havinglegs between which is a path for power fluid, removable pins extending inwardly from said housing member and fitting within the legs to support the mounting member, said pins being slidable in one of said members to provide for relative expansion between said members, a number of said pins having longitudinal passages therein for supplying fluid to and removing fluid from within the mounting member.

6. A turbine construction including a housing member, a rotor, a bearing for said rotor, a mounting member for said bearing separate from and located within the housing, said mounting member having legs between which is a path for power fluid, removable pins extending inwardly from said housing member and fitting within the the mounting member within legs to support the mounting member, said pins being slidable in one of said members to provide for relative expansion between said members,-

said rotor having a recess therein throughwhich coolant is circulated from within the mounting member, and means for supplying lubricant to said bearing and coolant for said rotor through the pins in said legs, said pins having longitudinal passages therein through which coolant and lubricant is circulated from the housing to the mounting member. 9

7. A turbine construction including a housing member, a rotor within the housing member, a

bearing for said rotor, a mounting member for said bearing, a labyrinth seal surrounding said rotor adjacent to said bearing, removable pins extending inwardly from the housing member and engaging said mounting member to support and spaced from the housing member, said pins being slidable said seal and another within one of said members to provide for relative expansion therebetween, and means for admitting one fluid to said seal and another fluid to said bearing, said last means including longitudinal passages in said pins and a passage in said mounting from the inner end of one of said pins to the seal.

8. A turbine construction including a housing member, a rotor within the housing member, a bearing for said rotor, a mounting member for said bearing, a labyrinth seal surrounding said rotor adjacent to said bearing, removable pins extending inwardly from the housing member and engaging said mounting member to support the mounting member within and spaced from the housing member, said pins being slidable within one of said members to provide for relative expansion therebetween, and means for admitting one fluid to said seal and another fluid to said bearing, said last means including longitudinal passages in said pins and a passage in said mounting from the inner end of one of said pins to the seal, said housing having passages therein communicating with the outer ends of the passages in said pins through which the fluids are admitted to the passages in the pins.

9. A turbine construction including a housing member, a rotor within the housing'member, a bearing for said rotor, a mounting member located within the housing and supporting said bearing, a labyrinth seal, said seal surrounding said rotor adjacent to the bearing, a part of said seal being carried by said mounting member, said mounting member having legs projecting substantially radially outwardly therefrom and between which is a path for power fluid, removable pins extending inwardly from the housing memberand engaging said legs for supporting the mounting member within and spaced from the housing, said pins being slidable in one of said members to provide for relative expansion therebetween, and means for admitting fluid to said seal including a longitudinal passage in one of said pins and a cooperating passage within said mounting member.

10. A turbine construction including a housing member, a rotor within the housing member, a

bearing for said rotor, a mounting member 10- cated within the housing and supporting said bearing, a labyrinth seal, said seal surrounding said rotor adjacent to the bearing, a part of said seal being carried by said mounting member, said mounting member having legs projecting substantially radially outwardly therefromand between which is a path for power fluid, removable pins extending inwardly from the housing member and engaging said legs for supporting the mounting member within and spaced from the housing, said pins being slidable in one of said membersto provide for relative expansion therebetween, and means for admitting one fluid to fluid to said bearing, said means including longitudinal passages in said pins and an interconnecting passage in said mounting member between the inner end of one of said pins and the seal.

.11. A turbine including a housing member, a casing within the housing member having nozzles, a'rotor within the casing having blades cooperating with the nozzles, a bearing mounting for one end of said rotor, a mounting member for said bearing located within and separateifrom the housing, pins extending inwardly from said housing member and fitting within the mounting member for supporting the mounting member within and spaced from the housing member, said pins being slidable in one of said members to provide for relative expansion between said mem'- bers, a fluid pump located 'in said housing at a point spaced from the pins, and means providing a fluid connection from the pump to the bearing in the mounting member includin a passage in said housing communicating with the outer end of one of said pins, and a passage in said one pin. 12. A turbine construction including a housing member, a rotor, a bearing for said rotor, a mounting member for said bearing located within the housing member, said mounting member having legs between which is a path for hot power fluid, pins extending inwardly from said housing through said one pin.

13; A turbine construction including a housing member, a rotor, a bearing for said rotor, a

mounting member for said bearing located within the housing member, said mounting member having legs between which is a path for hot power fluid, pins extending inwardlyfrom said housing member and fitting in the legs to support the mounting member, said pins being slidable in one of said members to provide for relative expansion therebetween, said housing member having bores through which the pins may be inserted, and means for admitting fluid to said mounting member including a passage in one of said legs and a heat shield around said one leg to prevent overheating of the fluid passing through said one pin.

14. A turbine construction including a housing member, a rotor within the housing member, a

bearing for said rotor, a mounting member for said bearing located within the housing member, a labyrinth seal around said rotor adjacent to said bearing, a part of said seal being carried by said mounting member, said mounting member having legs projecting substantially radially and between which is a path for hot power fluid, pins extending from the housing member and fitting within said legs for supporting the mounting member within and spaced from the housing member, said pins beingslidable in one of said members to provide for relative expansion for admitting one fluid to said seal and another therebetween, and means h 7 fluid to said bearing, said last means including longitudinal passages in said pins and. legs and Number shields around said legs to prevent overheating of 1,253,940 I the fluids therein. 1,328,234 I 6 1,780,804 RICHARD S. BUCK. ,9 55 WALTER A. LEDWITH. 2,223,847

REFERENCES CITED 10 Number The following references are of record in the 103 134 file of this patent: 456,738

, i 8 y UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Coatalen Jan. 15, 1918 Krogh Jan. 13, 1920 Ward Nov, 4, 1930 Gregg July 17, 1934 Eng'dahl Dec. 3, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Switzerland Dec. 16, 1923 Great Britain Nov. 13, 1936 

